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Salem schools to open doors so public can see building renovations

SALEM — The public will be invited to see the changes at Soule and Fisk elementary schools on Saturday, Sept. 20.

The School Board and administration are setting up times to hold ribbon-cuttings and open houses at those schools to show off the work done during the schools’ major renovation projects.

“The Phase II renovation committee decided that it would be appropriate to have open houses at Fisk and Soule because of the comprehensive work that was done at both of those schools,” Superintendent Michael Delahanty said. “We do want the public to have an opportunity to walk into these schools and see the dramatic changes.”

Some of those changes include additional space at the schools with new gymnasiums, kindergarten classrooms, and special education spaces, as well as renovated common spaces.

The plan is to have separate ribbon-cuttings and tours of both schools scheduled 90 minutes to two hours apart.

Delahanty said he would contact principals at each school to determine which times would work best for them.

School Board Chairman Patricia Corbett suggested that local politicians from the state legislature and the board of selectmen, among others, be invited to the ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

In addition to the major renovations at the Fisk and Soule schools, the district also recently wrapped up a smaller project at the Haigh Elementary School.

“We don’t want to forget that we did invest a couple hundred thousand dollars in that school to upgrade the safety and security of the facility itself,” said Delahanty.